Is it easier to switch to SDM as a SDE 3? Does it make a difference? Does Amazon require support from a person outside your immediate team?
Do not switch to SDM as an l5, it will take you much longer to get to l6 and amazon (or at least my org) has a really difficult time determining what needs to be done to get promoted from l5 SDM to l6. It's going to take 12 - 18 months to get your official title changed to SDM which is when the SDM comp kicks in. If your management thinks you should switch to SDM, that means your performing well enough that you could usually get l6 sde promo in that same amount of time.
You mean sde2 -> sdm l6? I can't imagine how can you argue for such a double jump, but of course, if you can pull that off, it is the fastest.
No I mean sde2 -> sde3 -> l6 SDM. You don't instantly switch from being an IC to manager on the books. You have a 12+ month transition period where you're still an IC but are managing people. So you spend some time getting to sde3 and then you spend another 12+ months transitioning to l6 SDM. If you do it the other way, you're probably going to do 12+ months transitioning to l5 SDM and then 24+ months going from l5 SDM to l6 SDM. This also has the downside of not being able to go back after a little while. 12 months in you will have felt you've invested too much time into learning to be a manager to go back to being an sde2.
No offense xkebp246 - but I see ramp-up times in the 3-4 months range being more common. There are also transitions from sde2 -> sdm l5 done instantly. Usually the later occurs with connections or out of desperation from the hiring manager.
L5 sdm often have trouble influencing enough and if your project grows it'll be taken away from you so go l6 first if you can
I'll try to answer each question: 1. There are no formal steps. Going from SDE2 to SDM2 is technically a job transfer, not a promotion. It doesn't require a standard promotion document. It's more a matter of your manager's driving the discussion with HR, org leaders, and other stakeholders. 2. I don't know about easier, but it's more common to go from SDE3 to SDM3. 3. In one case, you're an SDM2. In the other, SDM3. 4. I don't know if there's a formal checklist, but this kind of stuff typically gets discussed with HR, org leaders, and other stakeholders. The position of SDM2 has existed for a while, but was only formalized about 2 years ago. Prior to that, the leveling guidelines for the SDM ladder started at SDM3. Find the SDM leveling guidelines, and you'll see the distinction between SDM2 and SDM3. Don't pay too much attention to the time durations you're seeing in this thread. The times vary according to your org and, more importantly, your own performance against the leveling guide. If your goal is SDM3, and you're currently an SDE2, ask yourself where your strengths are. If you have the technical capacity to get to SDE3 (which is a high bar), consider staying in the SDE path, because it is more common to move from SDE3 to SDM3. Think carefully about this though. It's widely accepted that it's a big jump from SDE2 to SDE3. On the other hand, if you think your strengths are in management, or you don't think you have the technical capacity to move to SDE3, it means you will have a better chance climbing the SDM ladder. That means you need to build a case right now to make the lateral move to SDM2. But keep in mind that like SDE1, people don't stay at SDM2 indefinitely. You generally either move to SDM3, or you leave the SDM ladder altogether. Good luck!
Going the sde2 -> sdm2 -> sdm3 is better to learn management. Sdm3 has a lot more expectations and sde3 to sdm3 is a very big shift of focus. Sdm2 allows you to fail and learn from it. Failing at sdm3 usually means you are closer to exit. Each case is also unique. If you have a lot of industry experience (10+) then the sde3 route might be a good option.
Sde 2 -> sdm l5 -> sdm l6 likely will work, if you really want to be a manager. If not (you're in for power or other reason) nothing will work anyway, stay sde and shoot for pe role